A dumb down version of previous series.
Don't get me wrong, the game still enjoyable but when you raised through the level/rank you will be doing the same thing over and over again. I know the objective is to gain gold/money so with every mind set of getting more gold is to expand but compare to the previous version where you rise through the rank when you accumulate enough gold this series who rise through the rank after the completed certain requirements. Requirements that with every ranks become more and more time consuming. This is because you'll need to build more buildings/boats/offices and even when you finely reach that rank where you can send expeditions out you'll be let down by the ships that is allowed or the ranks of your captain that you can't actually keep in your pay roll when you're repairing your boat thus losing him and his level of expertise.
Again, don't get me wrong. The game is enjoyable with the possibility of constructing your own town later in the game but the biggest cons comes from the occasional pillage/sieges from the 'prince' if any demand he makes isn't met will make you grind your teeth in frustration. Even if you're not building your own town the current or most of your trading towns will be siege and sometimes the sieges can happen with almost 2/3 of the towns in the map at the same time. This is problematic cause sieges cuts the production rate of that city.
Economic wise it is perfect because the engine/script is set to giving every town their own independence thus giving you the impression of the game evolve with or without your intervention and ultimately making the production/need of each city a truly unique feeling.
Lastly, the game is enjoyable but it is nevertheless a frustrating and time consuming to reach higher ranks and a big let down when you are losing your favourite captain/s aswell as scrap down family structure(they[developer] said you can get married but I still am not married and don't know how) leaving you the fun and enjoyment of nothing but a build em up games(i.e Sim City).